Our ICON Pakistan Program Pays Tribute to Artists That Have Shaped the Country’s Music Landscape
When it comes to music discovery on Spotify, we know how important new releases are—particularly to younger generations of listeners. But we also aim to connect these generations with the timeless sounds of classic artists, and in Pakistan, voices from decades past are experiencing a remarkable resurgence in popularity. Enter Spotify ICON Pakistan.
This new music program will reintroduce and pay tribute to Pakistani artists from the 1950s to the 2000s, including Noor Jehan, Abida Parveen, and others who continue to inspire and influence the country’s vibrant music landscape. With each featured artist, listeners can expect curated playlists, exclusive video content, media partnerships, social media campaigns, and more.
“With almost 400,000 new discoveries globally on Spotify in 2024, it’s clear that classic hits are striking a chord with today’s generation,” said Khan FM, Spotify’s Senior Artist & Label Partnerships Manager for Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. “This blend of nostalgia and discovery showcases the enduring influence of these legendary artists on modern audiences, proving that great music truly transcends time.”
Spotify ICON Pakistan officially launched on September 21 with a special House of ICON event at the TDF Ghar museum in Karachi, where attendees embarked on a journey through decades of popular artists and songs. The exhibition will remain open for the next few weeks for visitors looking to immerse themselves in Pakistan’s rich music history.
Our first ICON Pakistan artist
During the event, Spotify unveiled the program’s first featured artist: the late Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. Nusrat, who died in 1997 at age 48, is considered one of the most influential qawwali singers in history and has inspired generations with his soulful music. On Spotify, he ranks among the top five Pakistani artists and has amassed more than 5.8 million monthly listeners.
With his blend of traditional qawwali and contemporary sounds, Nusrat’s voice continues to resonate across the globe, particularly among younger audiences. Over the past year, his music has seen a 26% increase in streams on Spotify, and almost 60% of his current listeners are Gen Z. Nusrat’s top-streamed tracks include “Mere Rashke Qamar,” “Sochta Houn,” and “Yeh Jo Halka Halka Suroor Hai.”
During his long-standing career, the Pakistani star collaborated with international artists like Peter Gabriel and Eddie Vedder, further expanding his global reach and attracting Spotify listeners in India, the U.K., the U.S., Canada, Australia, and Germany.
“We are incredibly proud to kick off the Spotify ICON Pakistan series by celebrating one of the greatest music legends of all time,” said Khan. “With more than 800 million streams worldwide on Spotify, his influence is both profound and far-reaching. This celebration is a tribute to his incredible journey and his impact on the Pakistan music culture.”
Nusrat is just one legacy artist whose music is currently captivating younger generations of listeners on Spotify. Let’s take a look at the growing appreciation for classical and traditional music across Pakistani artists from different decades.
’50s and ’60s: The golden era of melodies
On Spotify, Mehdi Hassan has seen a 142% year-over-year increase in streams, while Noor Jehan has seen a 66% year-over-year increase in active listeners—half of which are Gen Z. Ghulam Ali has seen an 82% increase in annual streams, and similarly, nearly half of these were from Gen Z listeners.
’70s and ’80s: The revolutionary age
Millennials make up 32% of Abida Parveen’s audience on Spotify, suggesting that this age group has a particular affinity for Sufi and spiritual music. On the other hand, Nazia Hassan’s pop revolution has strong cross-generational appeal, with Gen Z and millennials making up 54% and 25% of her listeners, respectively.
’90s and early ’00s: The expressive wave
On Spotify, Sajjad Ali and Hadiqa Kiani have seen the highest year-over-year growth in listeners among ’90s artists, both seeing a 75% boost. From the 2000s, Noori and Mustafa Zahid have each also seen a 75% increase in listener base over the past year. Meanwhile, relatively newer artists like Rahat Fateh Ali Khan and Atif Aslam both count Gen Z among 63% of their listeners. Gen Z now appears to be the core audience supporting these more modern yet traditional-sounding acts.
Bridging the gap between past and present
With ICON Pakistan, Spotify is providing a platform for legacy artists to be honored and celebrated in the digital age so that their sounds flourish across generations.
“This campaign aims to ensure that these artists remain culturally relevant while also generating opportunities for collaboration with contemporary musicians,” said Khan. “By showcasing the legacies of these artists, we will create a ripple effect, inspiring new talent while drawing attention to the historical importance of music in Pakistan.”
Immerse yourself in the sounds of these legendary artists with our flagship ICON playlist, then head to our ICON hub to discover music from each decade.
